The cave remained quiet.
Faint light flickered from the dying bonfire.
The woman's gaze rested on him.
"…You're injured," she said again. "How did you get those wounds?"
The man remained silent for a moment.
Then—
"While hunting," he replied. "A powerful beast attacked. I managed to survive."
His tone was calm.
Simple.
As if it were nothing.
She listened without interrupting.
Her eyes stayed on him.
(A beast…?)
(No… these wounds…)
(They don't look like they came from a beast.)
The thought passed through her mind.
But she said nothing.
Instead—
She gave a small nod.
"I see."
After a moment, the man spoke.
"Why were they chasing you?"
Her expression shifted slightly.
"I don't know," she replied.
Her voice was steady.
But her eyes dimmed faintly.
Silence returned.
The fire between them weakened further.
The last flames flickered—
Then began to die.
The man glanced at it.
Without a word, he reached for a few pieces of dry wood nearby and placed them into the bonfire.
He bent slightly, preparing to relight it.
Before he could—
A soft snap echoed.
She raised her hand.
With a simple motion of her fingers—
Flames ignited instantly.
The fire rose again, steady and bright.
The light reflected in their eyes.
For a moment—
Neither of them spoke.
The fire crackled quietly between them.
Then—
The woman broke the silence.
"…What is your name?"
Her gaze rested on him.
Calm.
Yet carrying a trace of curiosity.
The man looked at the fire for a moment before answering.
"Li Xuan."
She repeated it softly—
"Li Xun?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Subtle.
Almost unnoticeable.
"You got it wrong," he said. "Li Xuan."
She paused briefly.
Then nodded.
"…Li Xuan."
This time—
She said it correctly.
The sound of her voice repeating his name lingered faintly.
Then he asked,
"And yours?"
She met his gaze.
"Ling Yue."
The name was gentle.
Yet carried a quiet strength.
Li Xuan repeated it inwardly.
His eyes rested on her for a brief moment longer than before.
(Ling Yue…)
(It suits her.)
His voice lowered slightly.
"…A beautiful name."
Ling Yue's brows lifted faintly.
"What did you say?"
Li Xuan looked away, his expression returning to normal.
"Nothing."
The fire burned steadily between them.
But this time—
The silence no longer felt distant.
The fire burned steadily.
Ling Yue sat quietly, her gaze resting on the flames.
Her posture was composed.
Elegant.
The flickering light reflected softly on her face.
Across from her, Li Xuan sat in silence.
Calm.
Unmoving.
For a moment—
His eyes shifted.
They rested on her.
Quietly.
Ling Yue seemed unaware, still watching the fire.
Her expression had softened.
Less guarded than before.
Li Xuan watched her for a brief moment.
Then—
"…Ling Yue."
His voice was low.
Soft.
Ling Yue paused slightly.
"…Mm?"
She turned her head just a little, her eyes meeting his.
For a moment—
He said nothing.
As if he had called her without reason.
Then he looked away.
"I'll be back."
He stood up.
Not far from where they sat—
A small water body lay within the cave, only a few steps away.
The surface was still, reflecting faint light from the fire.
Li Xuan walked toward it.
Ling Yue watched him quietly.
Saying nothing.
Li Xuan walked toward the water.
The small pool lay still within the cave, its surface reflecting the faint glow of the fire.
Ling Yue remained where she was.
Quiet.
Watching.
He stepped closer, then slowly entered the shallow water.
Ripples spread gently across the surface.
Without a word, he lifted his sleeve slightly—
Keeping it away from the water.
Ling Yue's gaze followed the movement.
Then—
She saw it.
A deep wound along his left arm.
Not shallow.
Not recent.
And far from ordinary.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
(That kind of injury…)
The flickering firelight revealed more than before.
The wound wasn't something a simple beast could have caused.
Ling Yue remained silent.
But her gaze lingered on him.
Longer than before.
Ling Yue's gaze remained fixed on him.
The image of that wound refused to fade.
Deep.
Severe.
Enough to make even a seasoned cultivator grit their teeth.
Yet—
He moved as if it meant nothing.
Her eyes softened, almost unconsciously.
(For someone like him…)
(With almost no visible cultivation…)
(How did he endure something like that…)
A faint heaviness settled in her chest.
It wasn't pain.
Not hers.
(That kind of injury… it shouldn't be ignored.)
(It should hurt… it should slow him down…)
But he showed nothing.
No hesitation.
No discomfort.
As if he had grown used to it.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
(Just how much has he endured…)
(…to act like this?)
For the first time—
The caution in her eyes wavered.
(In this condition…)
(He still hid me from those assassins…)
(And even helped me recover…)
Her fingers moved unconsciously.
She placed her hand lightly over her abdomen—
Where the wound had been.
The pain had eased.
Her expression softened for a brief moment.
Then—
She noticed it.
Her clothes.
Different from before.
Her brows furrowed.
A faint trace of anger surfaced.
(He changed them…?)
(Li Xuan…)
Her thoughts sharpened.
On the other side—
Li Xuan, standing in the shallow water, paused.
As if sensing something.
He turned slightly, his gaze falling on her.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
His voice was calm.
Ling Yue looked at him.
For a moment—
The anger in her eyes rose.
She was about to speak.
But then—
Her gaze met his.
Those eyes—
Calm.
Clear.
Unbothered.
She paused.
The words stopped at her lips.
Her expression softened, almost unconsciously.
"…Nothing."
She looked away.
Her voice returned to normal.
But her fingers tightened slightly over her sleeve.
Li Xuan watched her for a moment longer.
Then turned back toward the water.
As if nothing had happened.